Public Policy Network

America's focus on the "first 100 days" of a new administration began when Franklin D. Roosevelt used the phrase in a fireside chat broadcasted in 1933. Taking office during the Great Depression, Roosevelt quickly pushed Congress to pass 15 bills, including the Emergency Banking Act and other New Deal programs. This became the standard for discussing the early effectiveness of new presidents.

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Shortly after President Biden took the oath of office, three new senators were sworn-in giving Democrats the majority. While controlling both the House and Senate will give Democrats many advantages, including the ability to set hearings schedules, the slim margins will enable moderates from both parties to have powerful input on legislative outcomes over the next two years.

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The origins of the annual New Year’s Eve ball drop can be traced to Royal Navy Captain Robert Wauchope who invented the time ball in 1829. These devices dropped at the same hour each day to help ships keep accurate time, which was essential to determine longitude while at sea.

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The highly-anticipated November elections are finally over with Joe Biden becoming the president-elect. The House remains in Democratic control by a slim margin, while a few seats remain undetermined. In typical 2020 fashion, control of the Senate is still unknown and will be decided by two runoff elections in Georgia.

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Presidential campaigns are said to be a marathon, not a sprint. Seasoned runners advise that discipline is necessary to finish a long run and it is vital to have a plan for the final miles to overcome any unexpected obstacles. To win, you need to utilize everything you’ve got and sometimes sprint to the end.

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In June of last year, 20 candidates took the stage for the first Democratic presidential primary debate. Questions addressed familiar topics, including heath care, foreign policy and the economy. Though experienced candidates knew many unexpected issues would arise before Election Day, it’s safe to say that no candidate anticipated a pandemic which would impact every aspect of daily life.

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